A pleasant forecast, a long holiday weekend and a recent drop in gasoline prices could mean Labor Day travel plans get the green light, although travel experts predict a slight decrease in those going on road trips.

The Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Tollway have suspended roadwork in construction zones for the holiday weekend to make travel easier, although work zone speed limits will continue to be in effect. Complete information about road conditions and updates on construction in Illinois can be found at www.illinoisroads.info.

The Indiana Department of Transportation is suspending or scaling back construction projects on the area's major highways in an effort to help holiday travelers, said Joshua Bingham, INDOT spokesman.

"No large (construction) trucks can enter or exit the construction area this weekend and no cones will be out," Bingham said of the current roadwork along Interstate 80/94 nearing the Interstate 65 interchange.

"The concrete walls that are there will remain, but any work being done will be behind those walls. The speed limit in that area is 45 mph," he said.

However, at that I-65 southbound exit, the two lanes of travel still will need to merge into one lane, he said. In addition, the I-65 northbound exit remains closed, and motorists should follow detour signs, Bingham said.

A bridge painting project on southbound I-65 between 113th and 110th avenues in Lake County has been halted for the Labor Day weekend and there are no lane restrictions during that period, he said.

Travelers will encounter other roadwork on the highways in and around the three-county area, Bingham said. The resurfacing of I-80/94 from Lake County through Ind. 49 in Porter County is nearing completion, so INDOT has removed all lane restrictions in both directions.

Additional construction along I-80/94 from Ind. 49 to U.S. 421 in LaPorte County leaves only two lanes open in each direction throughout the holiday weekend, Bingham said. The speed limit along that stretch of road is 45 mph.

The AAA Chicago Motor Club forecasts a slight decrease in Labor Day travel from the same time last year. About 34.4 million Americans will drive 50 miles or more from home during the three-day holiday. That's down from 34.7 million who took to the roads in 2007 and marks the first decline in Labor Day holiday travel since 2006, according to AAA. It also is the third consecutive travel period that projects a year-to-year decline in travel.

"While we are seeing a drop in travel, it is a small improvement over the Fourth of July holiday when we saw a drop of 1.3 percent," said Brad Roeber, AAA Chicago regional president. "This may show that travelers are starting to respond to the recent drop in gasoline prices."

The national average for self-serve regular gasoline is $3.69 per gallon. In Indiana, drivers are paying an average of $3.74 per gallon while the cost is averaging $3.87 a gallon in Illinois, according to AAA. Motorists will find gas prices about 38 cents less than the Fourth of July travel holiday, but still 91 cents more than this time last year.

"People this holiday seem to be traveling differently with more travelers interested in going by train, bus and some of the traditionally lesser used transportation modes," Roeber said.

However they travel, visitors to area attractions probably will increase.

"With this being the last holiday of the summer, we expect large crowds. Our biggest holiday is July Fourth," said Bruce Rowe, chief park interpreter with the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. "But last Labor Day we had the largest number of visitors ever to our visitors center, between 1,200 and 1,400 people."

Dunewood Campground is a popular spot at the National Lakeshore, Rowe said. However, no reservations are taken for this campground and the campsites go quickly.

If the weekend weather lives up to its promise, the beaches along Lake Michigan will be the destination of choice for many visitors, Rowe said. However, he warned that only West Beach has lifeguards.